Dr. Champika Ellawala

Senior Lecturer
PhD (Saitama), MSc (Moratuwa), BSc Eng(Hons) (Moratuwa), CEng, MIE(SL)

Contact info

+94-(0)91-2245765 ~ 67 Ext 2134
Mobile: +94-71-8601968
ellawala@cee.ruh.ac.lk
Room CE 102

Specialization

  • Environmental Engineering

Educational Qualifications

  • PhD in Science & Engineering from Saitama University,  Japan (2011)
  • M.Sc. University of Moratuwa (2007)
  • BSc Eng (Hons) in Civil Engineering from University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (2005)

Professional Qualifications

  • Senior Lecturer G-I, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ruhuna (Feb. 2018 -to date)
  • Visiting Scientist – NIWA, New Zealand (Oct. 2017-May 2018) (On sabbatical leave)
  • Senior Lecturer G-II, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ruhuna (Feb. 2012- Feb. 2018)
  • Senior Lecturer (temporary), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ruhuna (Oct. 2011- Feb. 2012)
  • Postgraduate (PhD) student at Department of Environmental Science, Saitama University, Japan (October, 2009- September, 2011)

Academic Awards and Scholarships

  • OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World -2020
  • Presidents’ Awards for Scientific Publication – Year 2013 – Awarded by The national Research Council, Sri Lanka
  • Best presentation award- International symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable Development – 2013, Galle, Sri Lanka.
  • Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT) (2008-2011)
  • Special award for the academic excellence for the Civil Engineering graduand who has obtained the third highest overall grade point average in B.Sc. Engineering Degree Examination for the academic year of 2004/2005

Memberships

  • Member of IESL

Research Interests

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Engineering and Management

Teaching Areas

  • Integrated Solid waste Management
  • Ecological Engineering

Other Academic and Professional Activities

  • Attended to short course “School on Recent Advances in Analysis of Multivariate Ecological Data: Theory and Practice” Conducted by International Centre for Theoretical Physics at Trieste, Italy – 2016.
  • Attended to Certificate Course of Professional Development in Higher Education conducted by The Staff Development Centre, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka – 2013.
  • Attended to Environmental Management in Tropics (Online – Short Course) Conducted by Denmark Technical University, Denmark – 2007.

Other involvements

  • Sports Advisory Board Member, University of Ruhuna (June, 2014 to June, 2017)
  • Student counselor – Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna- 2013-2016.

Publications

Journal:

  • Ellawala Kankanamge C., Matheson, F.E. & Riis, T. (2020). Shading may alter the colonization pattern and dominance between two invasive submerged aquatic plant species. Aquatic Ecology (Article in Press). 
  • Ellawala Kankanamge, C., Matheson, F.E. & Riis, T. (2019). Shading constrains the growth of invasive submerged macrophytes in streams Aquatic  Botany, 158: 103-125.
  • Harris, J.M., Vinobaba, P., Kularatne, R.K.A. and Kankanamge, C.E.  (2019). An assessment of heavy metal levels in brackish water shrimps: Impact on sexes and the relationship between metal pollution index and Fulton’s K condition indices. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 25: 1968-1979.
  • Harris, J.M., Vinobaba, P., Kularatne, R.K.A. and Kankanamge, C.E.  (2018). Heavy metal bioaccumulation and Fulton`s K condition indices in Scylla serrata (Forskal) in relation to sex. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 16: 201-210.
  • Kankanamge, C.E. and Kodithuwakku, H. (2017). Effect of interspecific competition on the growth and nutrient uptake of three macrophytes in nutrient-rich water. Aquatic Ecology. 51(4): 625-634.
  • Kularatne, R.K.A., Harris, J.M., Vinobaba, P. and Kankanamge, C.E.  (2017). Bio-transfer factors and temporal variation of heavy metals in different sexes of three species of edible brackish water fish. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(22): 18680–18690.
  • Harris, J.M., Vinobaba, P., Kularatne, R.K.A. and Kankanamge, C.E. (2016). Spatial and temporal distribution of cyanobacteria in Batticaloa Lagoon. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 47: 211-218.
  • Ranawakage, V.P., Ellawala, K.C. and Chaminda G.G.T. (2013). Preliminary study on the influence of water level on the growth and morphology of Limnocharis flava (L.) Buchenau. Annales de Limnologie – International Journal of Limnology, 49(4): 249-254.
  • Ellawala, C., Asaeda, T., and Kawamura, K. (2013). Water movement induced variations in growth regulation and metabolism of freshwater macrophyte Vallisneria spiralis L. in early growth stages. Hydrobiologia, 709(1): 173-182.
  • Ellawala, C., Asaeda, T. and Kawamura, K. (2012). Growth, nutrient uptake and variation of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in Chara fibrosa exposed to flow turbulence. Annales de Limnologie – International Journal of Limnology, 48(3):349-354.
  • Ellawala, C., Asaeda, T. and Kawamura, K. (2011). Influence of flow turbulence on Chara fibrosa: growth, stress, and tissue carbon content. Journal of Freshwater Ecology, pp.1-9.
  • Ellawala, C., Asaeda, T. and Kawamura, K. (2011). Influence of flow turbulence on growth and indole acetic acid and H2O2 metabolism of three aquatic macrophyte species. Aquatic Ecology, 45(3), pp.417-426.
  • Kankanamge, C.E., Asaeda, T. and Kawamura, K. (2011). The effect of flow turbulence on plant growth and several growth regulators in Egeria densa Planchon. Flora – Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, 206(12), pp.1085-1091.
  • Kankanamge, C.E.  and  Priyankara, D.P.M.P.  (2016). Consumer satisfaction on quantity and quality of water supply: a study in Matara, Southern Sri Lanka, Water Practice and Technology, 11(3): 678-689.
  • Ranawakage, V.P., Ellawala, K.C. and Tushara Chaminda, G.G.  (2014). Root and leaf extract allelopathic effect of Limnocharis flava on seed germination and growth of rice, World Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 10 (1): 14-17.

Conference Proceedings:    

  • K.C. Ellawala and Vinojkanth V., Water use patterns and sensitivity to tariff: A study in a community with access to alternative water sources other than pipe borne water,In: Proceedings of international symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable development – 2019, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 179-184.
  • Asarudeen A.M., G.G. Tushara Chaminda, Ellawala K.C., Shayan M.N.M., W.B. Gunawardena, Evaluation of The Water Quality of Community Managed Water Supply Schemes in Matara District. In: Proceedings of international symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable development – 2019, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 179-184.
  • Wimalasena, K., Ajanthan, B. and Ellawala, C. (2018). Attributes of Public Transportation User Satisfaction: Contrast the Level of Importance among Different Age Groups. In: Proceedings of international symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable development – 2018, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 179-184.
  • Kodithuwakku, H., Perera, W.C.S., Sewwandi, S.H.I. and Ellawala, K.C. (2017). Removal of Phosphorus from nutrient enriched water by using combinations of three aquatic macrophytes found in Sri Lanka, In: Proceedings of international symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable development – 2017, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 125-130.
  • Ellawala, K.C., De Rekha, E.P.R., Bandara, W.D.L.S. and Kodithuwakku, H. (2017). Evaluation of Chemical and Microbial Quality of Bottled Water Available in Sri Lankan Market, In: Proceedings of international symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable development – 2017, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 141-145.
  • Chathuranga, W.G., De Silva, N.C., Tushara Chaminda, G.G., Ellawala, C. and Kawakami, T. (2015). Removal of Fluoride, Hardness and Heavy Metals in Ground Water using Chicken Bone Char, In: IESL Annual Sessions – 2015, Volume I – PART B, Technical Papers, Colombo, Sri Lanka, pp 271-275.
  • Ranwakage, V.P., Ellawala, K.C. and Tushara Chaminda, G.G. (2015). Influence of Chromolena odorata and Mikania micrantha Plant Litter, Extracts on Germination and Early Seedling Development of Bidens pilosa, In: Proceedings of international symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable development – 2015, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 135-140.
  • Ellawala, C., Samarasekara, G.N., Samaraweera, D.D., Balasooriya, B.M.G.N. and Jayasekara, W.A.C.R. (2014). Floristic Composition of Roadside Vegetation and Involvement of landowners along Roadsides: A Case Study in Southern Sri Lanka, In: IESL Annual Sessions – 2014, Volume I – PART B Technical Papers, Colombo, Sri Lanka, pp 189-196.
  • Ellawala K.C. and Ariyaratne D.L.S. (2013) A Study on Interrelations between Mangrove Ecosystem and Local Community on Ecosystem Sustainability: A Case Study in Mangrove Estuary, Sri Lanka. In: Proceedings of international symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable development – 2013, pp 119-123. Galle, Sri Lanka.
  • Ellawala, K.C., Lokuliyanage, T.D. and Wannirachchi C.C. (2013) Role of soil moisture and nutrient availability in determining the morphology and biomass partitioning patterns of Colocasia esculenta grown in an agricultural wetland, In: Proceedings of international symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable development – 2013, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 130-135.
  • Ellawala, C. and Asaeda, T. (2012) Consequences of Flow Turbulence: Biomass Partitioning and Plastic Responses in Morphology, In: Proceedings of international symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable development – 2012, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 114-118. 

Abstracts

  • Kodithuwakku, H. and Ellawala, K.C. (2019). Removal of nutrients in agricultural runoff by using planted systems In: 16th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka, p 26.
  • A.M.R.S. Amarathunga, Champika Ellawala and I.D. Wijesiri (2018) Identifying the demand and consumption patterns of water use in hotel sector, In: Proceedings of the Undergraduate Research Symposium on Recent Advances in Civil Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 105-106.
  • P.S.A.D. Gunasekara and Champika Ellawala (2018) Study on the difference in energy demand in modern houses and old houses, In: Proceedings of the Undergraduate Research Symposium on Recent Advances in Civil Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 107-108.
  • N.W. Jayasooriya and Champika Ellawala, (2018) Consumer satisfaction on quality of pipe borne drinkingwater available in Hambantota district, In: Proceedings of the Undergraduate Research Symposium on Recent Advances in Civil Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 109-110.
  • V.Vinojkanth and Champika Ellawala, Effect of water tariff on the consumption patterns, In: Proceedings of the Undergraduate Research Symposium on Recent Advances in Civil Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 111-112.
  • R.M. Ilham and Champika Ellawala, Consumer satisfaction on the quality of pipe borne drinking water available in galle district, In: Proceedings of the Undergraduate Research Symposium on Recent Advances in Civil Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka, pp 113-114.
  • Kodithuwakku, H. and Ellawala, K.C. (2017). Comparison of phosphorus removal efficiency of selected aquatic macrophytes in mixed culture, In: 14th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka, p 65.
  • Chaminda, G.G.T., Balasooriya, B.M.J.K., Ellawala, C. and Kawakami, T. (2017). Spatial variation of ground water quality in Southern province, Sri Lanka. In: 14th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka, p 66.
  • Ellawala, C., Bopetta, B.V.Y.R. and Warnasinghe, C. (2016). Groundwater usage and effectiveness of home purification methods: A study in Hapugala area, Galle, In: 13th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka, p 80.
  • Fonseka, HAM, Senewirathna PJ, Bandara, WMKRTW and Ellawala, K.C.  (2016). Performance of an UASB reactor for leachate treatment, In: Annual Research Symposium- Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka, p 03.